Just not cricket

The inaugural Women’s Masters World Cup has been hit by controversy after campaigners said at least six male players took part in its opening match.

The month-long tournament, organised by the Senior Women’s Cricket Association, got under way yesterday at Malvern College with an invitational match between England and an International XI.

But Women’s Rights Network (WRN) says the competition was on a sticky wicket from the start.

A WRN member who attended told TERF Times she counted several male players on the field.

“It didn’t strike me at the time that many of the women there were bothered — but of course, we can’t really tell.

“When half the team are men, though, it makes a total mockery of it. There was a range of abilities, but two of the men hit the ball very hard — relatively speaking!”

She said organisers should play with a straight bat over who the competition is for.

“Play open, mixed-sex or women’s cricket. But don’t call it women’s cricket if there are men involved. Many women would be put off playing if they felt under pressure to have men playing with or against them.”

Two of the male players identified by WRN were from Gunnersbury Women’s Cricket Club, one of the country’s oldest women’s clubs.

Gunnersbury previously opposed the ECB’s decision to exclude trans-identifying males from women’s cricket, vowing to “stand by their trans players”.

WRN said it contacted tournament organisers last week seeking clarification of the eligibility rules and arrangements for single-sex changing rooms, but received no response.

TERF Times has also approached the Senior Women’s Cricket Association for comment.